Thailand burns 3.5 tonnes of seized narcotics

AYUTTHAYA, June 26 (TNA) - The Thai government burned some 3.5 tonnes of seized narcotics worth nearly Bt11 billion (about US$285 million) Monday morning to mark Thailand's observance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking,

Public Health Minister Pinij Jarusombat presided over a ceremony to destroy the seized drugs, the 34th of its kind over the past years, at the Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate in this central province of Ayutthaya Province.

Most of the drugs burned through an internationally-standardized environmentally-friendly system, called pyrolytic Incineration, include 32 million tablets of etamphetamines weighing 2,800 kilogrammes, followed by heroin, opium, ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis and codeine.

The event was witnessed by representatives of Thai and international agencies and organizations, including foreign journalists.

The Thai government declared its war on drugs in 2001, resulting in the number of seized drugs having steadily dropped on average, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where the seized drugs were stored before being destroyed.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is celebrated annually on June 26 to commemorate the signature of the Declaration adopted at the International Conference against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in 1987.

TNA

Thai-Myanmar border forum boosts anti-narcotics action

CHIANG MAI, June 28 (TNA) - The 23rd Thai-Myanmar Regional Border Committee meeting opened at this northern province Wednesday with joint anti-narcotics actions high on the agenda.

The meeting was jointly chaired by Lt. Gen. Saprang Kalayanamitr, Thailand's Commander of the Third Army Area Command and Maj.Gen. Khin Maung Lye, Commander of the Delta Armed Force Region from Myanmar.

During the two-day meeting that ends Thursday, the two sides are expected to review border security co-operation, focusing on narcotics suppression and border demarcation.

TNA